***************** Chapter 2 *******************
"Jonathan." She whispered as she knocked on his bedroom door.
This was the fifth night in a row that Clary was at his door since they moved in. She would wait till after their father tucked her in and went back into the master bedroom before she would get up and came to his room. The first night he was annoyed but now he felt different. Clary wasn't allowed to see her mother until Jocelyn was 'better' and Clary was still taking it pretty hard.
Jonathan opened his door and looked down at the little red headed girl standing in front of him. She was wearing a white nightgown and held a small stuffed animal in her arms. She looked up at him with beautiful green eyes that were red and puffy due to extensive crying. Jonathan looked down at her dressed in his own pair of PJ's. He gave her a smile and gestured for her to come in. He was still getting use to everything himself but the nightly visits from his sister were growing on him. He was actually beginning to like sleep with her. She kept him warm and he loved feeling like he was the big protective older brother. He knew that Clary needed him and it made him happy that he was the only one who could calm her down.
Clary walked across the room and hopped into his bed. Jonathan closed the door and turned off the light. He laid back down into the bed. Once he was comfortable he let his sister cuddle up into his chest. She nudged her head into his shoulder and lightly began crying. Jonathan wrapped his arms protectively around her and kissed her head.
"It is okay Clary. You are mine and I will protect you." He whispered.
Clary nodded in response but continued crying. It was a light silent cry which was better than the sobbing she had been doing the first night she was brought to the house. Jonathan couldn't help but recall the first night. The first night in the house was the worst. Clary was absolutely hysterical and screamed most of the night. Valentine came to her room three times throughout the night to calm her down and it was clear he was losing his patience. He finally just ended up locking her in her room so she would stop banging on his door. After a few more hours she finally screamed herself to sleep; of course by then the sun was coming up. The entire house was sleep deprived and groggy the next morning. The next night seemed like it was going to be a repeat of the first. It was midnight before Jonathan finally said enough was enough.
He was mad, sleep deprived and he was ready to beat his sister into a pulp if she didn't shut up! He went to her room and unlocked her bedroom doors. She heard the door squeak open and stopped screaming for a moment in order to see who was there. He opened the door fully and looked down at the sobbing mess that was his little sister. His anger quickly subsided as he looked at her blood shot eyes and puffy face.
"Please Clary," he begged. "Please, just go to sleep….please for me?"
Clary looked at him and nodded. She climbed into her bed as he pulled the covers over her tucking her in. When he was done he kissed her on the forehead and headed for the door. He closed her bedroom door but didn't lock it. It wasn't fair what their father was doing to her or him for that matter. His room was next door to hers and he could still hear her sobbing through the wall when he entered it. Jonathan could tell that she was really trying to keep quiet. As long as it wasn't the hysterical screaming, he could deal with it.
His room was a mess but he didn't care. It was the safest place in the house and not that it was quiet he was ready to close his eyes and drift into blissful sleep. Jonathan laid down on his bed and threw the soft sheets over him. He was almost asleep when he heard a soft knock on the door. He opened his eyes and sighed annoyingly. He knew who it was immediately. Clary was trying to be good, maybe something was wrong?
"Come in Clary." He called out.
She opened the door and looked at him as if asking permission to enter. He looked at her quizzingly. She looked tired and scared. After a moment she broke off his gaze and turned around closing his bedroom door quietly behind her. He looked at her not knowing what she would do or say. Finally she turned around and walked across the room stopping in front of him.
"Jonathan," she squeaked. "Can…can I please sleep with you?"
He was surprised and didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure what she was going to say but he hadn't been expecting that. He hesitated for a minute looking down at his little sister crying.
"Please," she begged. "I don't want to be alo-"she threw her hands up to her eyes and began sobbing again.
Oh by the angel, not again! He thought.
"Of course you can as long as you promise to go to sleep." He said exasperated.
Clary dried her eyes on the sleeves of her nightgown before nodding and climbing into his bed. She nuzzled up into his chest and buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her body sob lightly.
"Just breathe sis. Everything will be alright. I'm here now." He whispered rubbing her back gently trying to calm her down.
He felt her chest take in a deep breath. It was the first calm breath he had seen her take since she came here. After a few minutes her body finally relaxed and her breathing evened before becoming shallow. She was asleep finally and Jonathan smiled as he drifted off with beside her.
Clary had sleep with him in his bed since that night on. He was pretty sure his father knew considering she wouldn't be in her bed when he went to wake her up the first few mornings. Now it was Jonathan who got her up and made her go and get dressed every morning. Eventually he got used to it and even enjoyed sleeping with his sister. A part of him loved the affection she gave him. She was always at his side and was impressed by everything he did.
She watched him shoot an arrow once. Jonathan had hit a bullseye and was loading another arrow when he heard Clary squeal in delight.
"Wow! Jonathan you are the bestest arrow shooter and tree climber and knife thrower in the world! You're the best at everything big brother!" She grinned happily.
Jonathan would be lying if he said that his ego wasn't boosted by her compliments.
"Someone who shoots an arrow is called an archer Clarissa." Jonathan smiled.
He ended up grabbing a light bow and giving up training that day instead opting to teach Clarissa how to shoot a bow and arrow. She squealed again when she finally hit the target with his help. It was at least two months before they finally saw their mother Jocelyn again. She came into the kitchen during breakfast one morning accompanied by their father. Clary jumped up and ran to hug her when she saw her.
"Mommy!" she squealed. "You're all better now right? You won't go away again will you?"
Jonathan could see his father smile. Clary had played right into his hands. The look on his mother's face was that of a shattered porcelain doll. Seeing Clary had made her shatter. His mother hugged Clary tightly and began crying lightly into her daughter's hair. His father always got his way; one way or another.
"Come and give your mother a hug Jonathan." His father commanded.
His mother looked up at him with teary eyes. He could see a mixture of love, sadness and yet fear in her eyes. Something about him scared her though he couldn't fathom what. Jonathan got up reluctantly and allowed her to wrap her arms around him. She was more affectionate than his father. Jonathan hoped everything would change now that she was back but he wasn't going to hold his breath. The truth was he mother left him. She didn't want him anymore than he wanted her. As long as he had his sister, that was all the family he needed.
************Line Break ************************
There was a knock on the front door a week later. Clary was curious and ran to the door to answer it but Jonathan stood his ground. He knew exactly who it was and he had no intention of giving them a warm welcome. He would be damned if he had to share his sister and his father with him. No, he would bide his time and do away with him quickly. His father told him to be nice but he didn't care. It would be worth the beating to avoid him.
Clary rushed to the door just as her father was opening it.
The doors opened to a handsome boy about her Jonathan's age. The boy had golden eyes and long blonde hair. He was tall like her brother and the way he walked reminded her of a cat. The new boy looked at the little redhead curiously. Valentine smiled as the two appraised each other.
"Clary I would like you to meet your new brother Johnathan." Valentine said addressing his little daughter.
Clary looked at her father confused. "Another Jonathan?" she asked her father.
Valentine laughed at this.
"I like to go by Jace." Jace replied.
"Jace," she said to herself testing out how the name sounded.
Jace looked at her nervously. After a moment Clary ran forward and hugged the golden eyed boy. Jace hugged her back little startled.
"Nice to meet you too umm..." he hesitated.
"Clarissa." Valentine answered for her.
Clary looked up at Jace and smiled sweetly.
"I have a nickname too Jace. I like to go by Clary!"
"Well then it's nice to meet you Clary." Jace smiled.
Jonathan who had been hiding in the corner watching this exchange tightened his fists. He was now standing arms crossed and fists tightened glaring at his new 'brother'. He didn't like the way Clary was hugging Jace at all. She was his sister! She belonged to him and no one else. He would be damned if he was going to let some boy with his name walk in here and steal his family. No, he had to go and quickly; before Clarissa got too attached.
"Father?" Clary asked letting go of Jace.
Valentine looked curiously at his daughter.
"Yes" he replied.
"May I have a sister next?" she asked bluntly.
Valentine looked at her a bit taken back.
"What do you mean next?" her father asked.
"Well first I found out that I had a brother named Jonathan and then you gave me another brother Jace. Well that's a lot of brothers so can I have a sister next." She answered matter-of-factly.
Valentine just looked at her and shook his head in exasperation. Clary didn't seem to be bothered by this and continued.
"And then daddy I think we should be good because that's all the rooms we have left in this house."
Valentine smiled affectionately at his daughter.
"If you do get another sibling it won't be for a while Clarissa. Unless mommy disagrees of course." He added looking up at his wife. She returned his gaze with a heated scowl.
"Jace will be your last sibling darling." Jocelyn said affectionately deflecting to her daughter.
Jonathan grunted and took a moment to look his new brother up and down. They could pass as biological siblings more than Jonathan and Clary could. Jace looked up at that movement and meet Jonathan's gaze. Jonathan gave the boy another cold glare. Jace kept his gaze locked and didn't back down. He expected Jace would do as much. Their father had always taught them that fear was a weakness. Jace wouldn't back down in a fight and neither would Jonathan. Jonathan grinned at the challenge and turned around to leave. He went to his room to be alone and to think about how to deal with his new brother.
Things went that way for the rest of the week. Jonathan kept to himself and Clary who Jonathan kept blowing off, started following Jace around like a lost puppy. He had caught her sitting next to him while Jace played the piano one day. Jonathan was so livid that shoved her off the bench and punched Jace in the face. His mother was not very happy and grabbed him. She had punished him by making him clean up the horse stables outside. He couldn't complain it was better than a beating. Clary had met him and tried to help him clean as best as she could. She seemed to love him no matter what he did to her. He was relieved at that and ended up kissing her on the cheek and apologizing for hurting her. She seemed to mellow him out and bring out the good in him.
One thing had still bothered him though. Clary had stopped knocking at his door at night. He had thought that it was her way of giving him space. He didn't think much of it until one night when he got up to get a drink of water. He was on his way back to his room when he saw his sister go into Jace's room. That was the last straw for Jonathan. He was going to get rid of Jace if it was the last thing he did.
Jonathan went to his dad's study where his father kept his deadliest weapons. He took a dagger out of a case and hid it in his pajamas pant pocket. The next day it was raining and the kids were kept in doors with the servants as their parents went out. Their father was still trying to track down the mortal cup from the witch that their mother had given it to. They had still yet to track the witch down and his father was becoming more obsessive than ever. The result was that their parents were often out of the house and the kids were left with the servants.
Jace was reading with Clary in the library when Jonathan walked in. They both looked up at him in surprise. Jonathan had to bite his tongue and breathe deeply when he saw that Clary was sitting in Jace's lap. It had been a week since he had any real bodily contact with his sister. He missed feeling her warm little body cuddled up protectively in his arms.
"Jonathan!" Clary smiled greeting him. "Jace is reading a book to me! Will you read me a book too?"
"I have a better idea." Jonathan replied a little bitterly. "Let's go outside and explore."
"Father said not to leave the house while it's raining." Jace protested.
"It's not raining anymore." Jonathan countered.
Both of them looked at Jonathan reluctantly.
"Come on Clary. We can jump in the puddles. It will be a lot of fun." He smiled at her.
"Okay!" she said jumping to her feet.
Jonathan took his sisters hand and began to lead her out of the room. When he noticed that Jace wasn't following them he stopped and turned around to look at the blonde boy.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked.
Jace looked at Jonathan surprised for a minute. Then sighed reluctantly and got up.
"Okay but I am going on the record that I think this is a bad idea!"
"Noted," Jonathan grinned wickedly.
********************Line Break************************
They snuck out of the back door and through the yard. Everything was dripping wet. The air was cold and there was a thin mist covering the dense forest. Clary found a few puddles on the grass to jump in. She quickly regretted it though when she felt the cold water soak her pants and down through her boots. She began shivering and Jace ended up carrying her the rest of the way so she wouldn't get more soaked.
They had been exploring awhile when they at last came to a giant tree. The tree was old and ancient looking. It had a fairytale look about it that captivated Clary's interest.
"Wow!" Clary's jaw fell open. "It is so tall!"
"Yeah!" Jonathan agreed. "Hey! Let's climb it!"
"No way Jonathan. Clary couldn't even reach the first branch." Jace said.
"Okay, how about just you and me then?" Jonathan replied. "We can even race!"
"I don't think that's a good idea." Jace replied.
"Oh come on? Are you scared or did dad never show you how to climb a tree properly?" he said egging him on. "- Because, he showed me!"
"He showed me too!" Jace yelled.
"Then prove it!" Jonathan shouted as he climbed up the first branch.
Jace quickly let Clary down off of his back and took off following him. The branches were wet and both boys slipped multiple times but managed to keep their balance. They kept going higher and higher into the branches. Jonathan was higher when he finally stopped to look back at Jace struggling a few branches below him.
"You're never going to beat me. You know that right? I don't know why my father even bothered teaching you anything. You are completely worthless." Jonathan said angrily at Jace who looked up at him intently.
"Why do you dislike me so much Jonathan?"
"Because you're weak and I hate you. You are not worthy of my father or sister and I am going to make sure you go away for good." Jonathan replied as he took the dagger from his coat pocket. Jace's eyes looked up and Jace froze in place upon seeing the dagger. He leaned forward and aimed it at Jace.
"Bye bye now." Jonathan said as he whizzed the dagger at Jace.
It all happened in an instant. Upon leaning forward Jonathan lost his balance on the wet branch and fell forward as the dagger left his hand. Jace narrowly dodge the blade as he grappled to balance himself once again on the branch. The dagger ended up piecing the bark of the tree next to Jace. Jonathan tried to grasp at anything as he fell through the air. Clary screamed but Jonathan couldn't hear it. He was in shock as he scrambled to grab ahold of anything.
After a second he managed to get a hold of a branch after falling a good 20 feet and smacking his head.
"Jonathan!" Jace shouted.
Jonathan desperately tried to pull himself up but the branch was too slippery. Jace rushed down the tree as fast as he could until he came to the halfway point where his adoptive brother was hanging on for dear life. At this height if he fell he could die. Jonathan looked up at Jace angrily.
"I guess you can just let me die now. I'll fall to my death and everything I have will be yours." He spat.
Jace looked down at him confused.
"Is that what you really think I want?" Jace replied grabbing ahold of Jonathan's jacket and hoisting him up. After a big of scrambling both boys were out of breath but safe for the moment.
"Jonathan," Jace said tiredly. "You are my brother. I love you. I would never want anything to happen to you. You and Clary are really the only family I have in the entire world. I would never want anything bad to happen to either of you."
Jonathan looked up at the boy. Jace had saved his life when he could have easily killed him. It would have been an accident too and no one would have questioned it but he didn't. He choose to save him and on top of that he told Jonathan that he loved him. Maybe Clary wasn't the only family he could have. Maybe Jace could be part of his family too. Clary was much too weak to be a good Shadowhunter partner. Maybe Jace and him could be a team and take on the world together. They could be the best shadowhunters of all time. Heck they both had the strength and agility for it.
"Are you going to be okay?" Jace asked with real concern in his voice.
"I'm sore but I'll live. Thanks to you my brother." Jonathan smiled genuinely at Jace for the first time since meeting him. "We better get down. I think she is going to cry and tell on us if we don't come down." Jonathan added.
"We can't have that!" Jace smiled as they both carefully climbed back down the tree. This time each making sure the other was safe.
Clary rushed at Jonathan when his feet safely hit the ground. She started punching at his chest angrily.
"Don't you ever do that again Jonathan or I will tell mom and she will make you clean the horse poop up forever… and.. and don't even think I will help you this time Jonathan." She yelled.
Jonathan laughed.